Coronation Coleslaw Will Be the Most Popular Thing You Make This Summer

I first heard of coronation chicken during Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee. Unsurprisingly, the dish was created for her coronation in 1953, and is a flavorful take on chicken salad featuring curry powder, raisins, and sometimes nuts. I’ve made it many times and it is, in fact, delicious.

While contemplating coronation chicken’s sweet, savory, and spiced flavors, I realized they would translate nicely into coleslaw. With colorful and crunchy coleslaw mix, juicy mango, crisp cashews, and chewy raisins, it’s an explosion of flavors and textures. A simple dressing of mayo, yogurt, lemon juice, and curry powder is all you need to complete the dish.

I like to serve this slaw with grilled chicken, fish, or shrimp. It’s a delicious mix of hot and cold, creamy and meaty, sweet and savory.

Quick Tips for Makimangng Coronation Slaw

• I include a seemingly extra step in this recipe: salting and draining the coleslaw mix. In just 10 quick minutes, this helps expel excess water from the cabbage, keeping your slaw from becoming watery.
• If you plan to serve the coleslaw immediately after making it with no leftovers, you can skip the salting step.
• Even if your mango isn’t perfectly ripe, it’ll work nicely in this recipe. A less ripe mango will add more crunch and a tarter flavor, while ripe mango will be juicier and sweeter. Both are delish.
• If you’re feeding a crowd at, for example, a barbecue, you can easily double this recipe.

Easy Swaps and Substitutions

Adjust this recipe to suit your tastes. If you prefer mayo over yogurt or sour cream, use all mayonnaise instead. The lemon juice can be swapped for white wine vinegar. If you don’t have access to fresh mangoes, you can replace the raisins and mango with 1/2 cup of chopped diced dried apricots. The cashews add a nutty crunch, but they can be left out if you’re allergic.

Make It a Meal

Take a cue from the original recipe and toss in some shredded, cooked chicken! Rotisserie chicken is great here. Toss, then add more mayo or yogurt and curry powder to taste. It’s a complete meal that’s great on its own or wrapped up in a warmed pita.

Creative Coleslaws

• Copycat KFC Coleslaw
• Brussels Sprout Slaw
• No Mayo Coleslaw
• Pickle Slaw

Salt the coleslaw mix and prepare the mango:

Add the slaw mix to a colander and toss with the salt. Let sit and drain for 10 minutes.

While the slaw sits, prep the mango and green onions. Peel the mango and cut the flesh off of the pit. Cut into rough matchsticks.

Trim the green onions and thinly slice. Set aside.

Rinse and drain the coleslaw mix:

After 10 minutes, rinse the slaw mix under cool water. Drain and dump out on a dry kitchen towel. Gently pat dry and set aside.

Make the dressing:

Add the mayonnaise, yogurt, lemon juice, and curry powder to a medium bowl (with enough room to mix together the slaw). Stir together until combined.

Assemble:

To the bowl with the dressing, add the dried slaw mix, prepared mango, green onions (reserving a few slices of dark green for garnish), raisins, cashews (if using), and pepper. Toss well and taste, adding salt and/or more curry powder if needed. 

If you plan to have leftovers, reserve the cashews and add them just before serving. Leftover slaw will keep in the fridge for up to 2 days. Toss again before serving.

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